Thursday, 29 September 2016

US imposes sanctions on Italian rapper for fighting with ISIS

US imposes sanctions on Italian rapper for fighting with ISIS

Washington: The Obama administration has imposed sanctions on an Italian rapper who moved to Syria to join the Islamic State group.
Anas el-Abboubi was added on Wednesday to the State Department's list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

The department says el-Abboubi - who's known in Italy as Mc Khalif -
was taken into police custody in Italy in 2013 for plotting an attack in
northern Italy and recruiting individuals for militant activity in
Syria. He was released after two weeks in custody and later fled to
Syria.

The department says he's among about 50 foreign fighters of Italian origin currently fighting in Syria.

State Department Terrorist Designation of Anas El Abboubi

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

September 28, 2016

The Department of State has designated Anas El
Abboubi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under
Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons
and groups determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of
committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S.
nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the
United States.

As a result of this designation, all property subject to
U.S. jurisdiction in which Abboubi has any interest is blocked and U.S.
persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with
Abboubi.
Anas El Abboubi has been fighting in Syria for the Foreign Terrorist
Organization and SDGT group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
(ISIL) since September 2013. He is one of approximately 50 foreign
terrorist fighters of Italian origins fighting in Syria.

Abboubi began
to radicalize in 2012 after being relatively well known on the Italian
hip hop scene as rapper McKhalif. In August 2012, he established the
Italian branch of an extremist organization. In June 2013, Abboubi was
arrested by the Brescia Police General Investigations and Special
Operations Division and anti-terrorism forces for plotting a terrorist
attack in Northern Italy and recruiting individuals for militant
activity in Syria. He was released after two weeks in custody and fled
to Syria shortly after.

The imposition of sanctions by the United States against terrorists
is an important tool. Today’s action notifies the U.S. public and the
international community that Anas El Abboubi poses a significant risk of
committing acts of terrorism. Designations of terrorist individuals and
groups expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and result in
denial of access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations
can assist or complement the law enforcement actions of other U.S.
agencies and other governments.
A list of U.S. designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations and SDGTs is available here: http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/index.htm.